Elgin City Footballer Accused Of Match Betting Fraud Charge

7 March 2023
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A Scottish league footballer accused of hatching a plot with friends to defraud a bookie had more than ₤ 2,000 in his bedside drawer, a trial heard.


Elgin City striker Kane Hester was found with the cash when his household home was raided.


He denies backing himself to get booked throughout a match against Hibs as part of a plan with 3 others to defraud Bet365.


Findlay Soutar, Calvin Parrott and Brodie Myres likewise reject the charge.


In a joint declaration agreed by the Crown and defence legal representatives, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had picked up a yellow card throughout the very first half of the Scottish League Cup game.


It also confirmed that the 3 other implicated had actually carried out a variety of financial deals in the hours before the match in July 2019.


Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan read the statement to jurors at Dundee Sheriff Court where the implicated, all from Montrose, have gone on trial.


Suspicious betting patterns


Mr Duncan stated it was concurred as reality that Mr Myres had paid money into Mr Soutar's account and likewise into an account coming from Mr Parrott.


He said bets worth countless pounds had been put on Mr Hester getting reserved and the bookmaker had actually paid out winnings at odds of 5-1.


Mr Duncan said it was agreed that mix bets - including Mr Hester getting a yellow card - were also placed and won by members of the accused group.


The Scottish Football actioned in to produce a performance review of Mr Hester during the match after being informed about suspicious betting patterns on the video game.


The court was revealed video footage of Hester's home being robbed and the footballer telling officers he understood what they were there for and would take them to the money.


Hester said: "Do you understand what would be easier? I understand what you are speaking about. There's no point mucking you about.


"I have actually got the cash, it's at home. If I take you home and offer you the cash, that's what took place.


"I was reserved in a video game and my friends offered me cash for it - ₤ 2,500."


Mr Hester is declared to have outlined before the match with 3 others to place a series of bets on him being scheduled by the referee.


The court heard ₤ 2,400 was later on found in his bedside drawer.


The charge alleges the four men got ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, which ₤ 13,583.32 of it was gotten as unlawful profits.


An alternate version of the charge alleges they cheated at gambling by positioning 5 bets on Mr Hester being booked and that he was shown a yellow card for a foul, leading to them falsely getting ₤ 13,583.32 in profits.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose